Special section by Hawai‘i Leadership Forum in Hawai‘i Business Magazine

Celeste Connors, CEO of Hawai‘i Green Growth, leads by cultivating decisive action toward a shared vision. Hawai‘i Green Growth is a United Nations Local2030 hub, which convenes diverse stakeholders to create scalable solutions that drive Hawai‘i toward its 2030 sustainability goals and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

“Real change starts at the local level,” Connors says. “Effective leadership harnesses the power of collaboration and deep-rooted knowledge to create lasting change that not only benefits our islands but inspires the world.”  

Through the Aloha+ Challenge, the network is implementing initiatives to support regenerative and nature-based solutions, build community resilience, and measure progress on the State Dashboard. Hawai‘i has also scaled its model through the Local2030 Islands Network, the world’s first global, island-led network devoted to addressing the climate crisis. 

Left: In September 2024, members of the Hawai‘i SDG Youth Council attended the United Nations Summit of the Future Action Days in New York. During their visit, the students had an opportunity to meet and share their vision with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Right: Hawai‘i Green Growth’s Youth Voice video was shown at the United Nations as part of Hawai‘i’s Voluntary Local Review process. The video’s message was written by Kamehameha Schools Kapālama students in the Ka‘āmauloa educational pathway. 

Leaders Shaping Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i Leadership Forum’s Omidyar Fellows has invested in forward-thinking industry leaders committed to a better future for Hawai‘i. Through inventive ideas and creative approaches, Fellows and their organizations are delivering bold and long-lasting solutions to the state’s most critical challenges. 

Visionary CEOs

Ann Teranishi, president and CEO of American Savings Bank, leads the bank’s strategy to make banking easy and convenient for customers while fostering community resilience. Diane Paloma, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Dental Service, steers efforts to expand access to quality dental care and improve oral health outcomes for local communities. Lance Parker is president and CEO of Alexander & Baldwin where he oversees the statewide commercial real estate portfolio, prioritizing community investments that promote Hawai‘i’s people, culture, and sustainability. Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric, leads Hawai‘i’s energy transformation efforts that empower communities with safe, reliable, and resilient clean energy in support of Hawai‘i’s ambitious climate goals. Alicia Moy heads Hawai‘i Gas as president and CEO, innovating groundbreaking energy initiatives that deliver cleaner, reliable, and cost-effective alternatives, advancing the state’s vision for a sustainable future.

Accelerators of Change

Dawn Lippert, founder and CEO of Elemental Impact and founding partner of Earthshot Ventures, spearheads investments in climate technology solutions that both address global environmental challenges and benefit local communities. Meli James is the co-founder of Mana Up, a 100% Hawai‘i focused accelerator, venture fund, and retail platform investing in local products with the mission to increase economic opportunity and jobs. Keoni Lee advances people and organizations that are addressing social and environmental issues as the CEO of Hawai‘i Investment Ready, global leaders in bioregional financing strategies and systems change investing work in Hawai‘i.